Can you win 4 national titles? Belt wrestling added to Beach and Grappling in North Carolina, May 21-22

Do you think you are tough? Enjoy testing yourself in a variety of sports? Consider yourself an Ironman or Ironwoman? Willing to try something new?


USA Wrestling has added a Belt Wrestling national competition to its non-Olympic style wrestling weekend in North Carolina, May 21-22.


Between these three recognized international styles of wrestling, a person has a chance to win four national titles over the course of the weekend. Athletes have the chance to compete in Beach Wrestling, No-Gi Grappling, Gi-Grappling and Belt Wrestling


The U.S. Beach National Championships are set for Saturday, May 21 in Carolina Beach, N.C. The U.S. Grappling World Team Trials will be held Sunday, May 22 in Wilmington, N.C., with both No-Gi and Gi Grappling divisions contested. Now, a Belt Wrestling tournament will be held on Sunday in Wilmington, right after the Grappling events are completed.


And for those who win in Belt Wrestling? United World Wrestling is hosting the 2016 Belt Wrestling World Championships in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, September 7-10 which they could consider attending if they want to take on the world in this style.


Belt Wrestling is recognized as a traditional style of wrestling by United World Wrestling. In the UWW International Traditional Wrestling Regulations, there are three styles: Fixed Belt, Free Belt and No-Belt.


The competition in Wilmington will featured the “Fixed Belt” style, in which athletes continuously grab the belt while executing scoring techniques.

CLICK HERE FOR UWW INTERNATIONAL TRADITIONAL WRESTLING REGULATIONS

Some Belt Wrestling Basics (from UWW regulations)

Duration of the Match - The match consists of 1 period of 4 minutes for all age divisions.

Fixed Belt - Start and Restart position

Neutral position occurs at the beginning of the regular period and after all match interruptions. Both wrestlers stand opposite one another in the centre of the mat with one foot touching the inner circle, touch shoulders, and grab their opponent’s belt by placing their hands on his/her sides. Wrestling starts at the referee’s whistle.

Scoring for Actions and Holds

1 point is the awarded to:

* the wrestler who manages to bring any of his opponent’s body part to the ground;

* the wrestler who manages to bring any of his opponent’s body part out of the competition area;

* the wrestler whose opponent has received a caution for passivity or illegal action.

Note: the attacker can put a knee (or any other body part) to the ground when executing an action.

2 points and victory by fall are the awarded to:

* the wrestler who manages to pin his opponent’s shoulders to the ground.

Overtime

Overtime begins at the end of regulation time when the score of the match is tied. All cautions and infractions accumulated during regulation time are carried over to the overtime period. Overtime lasts 30 seconds for all age divisions and the victory is determined by “golden point”, meaning that the first wrestler who scores wins the match.


As an incentive for athletes to try out this style, which is not widely practiced in the United States, the entry fee will be $10 for any athlete who is competing in either the Grappling or Beach tournaments, or $20 for an athlete who is only competing in Belt Wrestling. All participants must have a current USA Wrestling card. Athletes can register online through TrackWrestling.


There are four age groups recognized by United World Wrestling: Cadet (15-17), Junior (18-19), Senior (20 and older) and Veterans (35 and older).


For Juniors, Seniors and Veterans, there are four men’s weights and three women’s weights. For Cadets, there are three men’s weights and two women’s weights.


For the Belt Wrestling Tournament, weighins from the Beach Nationals can be used. However, for competitors who are not wrestling at the beach, or wish to weigh in again in order to go a different weight class, there is a weigh-in for the Grappling competition that also serves as the Belt Wrestling weigh-in at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday.

CLICK HERE FOR GRAPPLING/BELT WRESTLING NATIONALS EVENT WEBSITE


Want to give Belt Wrestling a try? USA Wrestling will give you the opportunity on Sunday, May 22 at Eugene Ashley High School in Wilmington, N.C.

NON-OLYMPIC STYLE WEEKEND EVENT SCHEDULES


U.S. GRAPPLING WORLD TEAM TRIALS EVENT

U.S. BELT WRESTLING NATIONALS CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Wilmington, N.C., May 22

Sunday, May 22

9:00 a.m. - Doors Open

9:30 a.m. - Registration and weigh-in, all divisions in No-Gi Grappling, Gi Grappling and Belt Wrestling

11:00 a.m. – No-Gi Grappling competitions

TBA after No-Gi ends – Gi Grappling competition

TBA after Gi ends – Belt Wrestling competition

U.S. BEACH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Carolina Beach, N.C., May 20-21

Friday, May 20

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Early Beach Nationals Registration and Weigh-in at the Lazy Pirate (Optional, all divisions)

8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. – Coach and Competitor Social at the Lazy Pirate (Optional, all divisions)

Saturday, May 21

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Registration and weigh-in at Carolina Beach Boardwalk Stage (all divisions)

12:00 noon – conclusion – Beach National Championships (all divisions)

6:00 p.m. – Post Tournament Social at Good Hops Brewing Company (Optional, all divisions)